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The phone is a remarkably complex, simple device,
and very rarely ever needs repairs, once you fix them. Dan/Panther

Author
Topic: Northern Telecom Centurion (Read 3837 times)

Well I finally found the payphone I've been looking for for a while, but I was surprised at what was inside it.

Having dug around the internet, it looks to me like its setup for semi-post pay. Most of the parts say 5-85, however it looks like the dial and handset are not original. It seems to work properly on my pbx, as it has no coin relay it appears to not need any special line?

Right now I just have it sitting on a table against the wall - do these need backboards to mount properly? If so which ones fit?

Well I finally found the payphone I've been looking for for a while, but I was surprised at what was inside it.

Having dug around the internet, it looks to me like its setup for semi-post pay. Most of the parts say 5-85, however it looks like the dial and handset are not original. It seems to work properly on my pbx, as it has no coin relay it appears to not need any special line?

Right now I just have it sitting on a table against the wall - do these need backboards to mount properly? If so which ones fit?

if these activate on polarity reversal, could I use a linksys ATA that reverses, and the phone would work with coins?

The Centurion will work with no modifications on a standard line. Never tried playing with reversal on the semi-postpay version.

However, it requires 70-100 volts to operate the relay just as a 3 slot for the prepay version, otherwise coins will build up in the vault. That can be overcome by tying the relay closed.

My Centurions are all Prepay versions. It may be line reversal would make a Semi Postpay version connect, but I haven't had one of those to experiment with.. I do know, however, that if you reverse the line polarity, the Semi-postpays will also work as a home phone.

Just to clarify--ifthe CenturionEman's semi-postpay Centurion is like other semi-postpay AE/postpay WE, NE--then there is no buildup of coins and no 130 VDC sent over the line to collect/refund deposit. Rather, any coins dropped (other than pennies or coins in the wrong slot of a multi-slot) go directly into the coin vault. That's why the instructions say don't deposit coins until the called party answers.[2015-03-11 Edited for clarity: not all Centurions, but only the semi-postpay version]

Just to clarify--if the Centurion is like other semi-postpay AE/postpay WE, NE--then there is no buildup of coins and no 130 VDC sent over the line to collect/refund deposit. Rather, any coins dropped (other than pennies or coins in the wrong slot of a multi-slot) go directly into the coin vault. That's why the instructions say don't deposit coins until the called party answers.

Sorry. but not quite accurate for the bulk of Canturions which are prepay. Coins must be inserted before dialing. All coins are held in escrow until the relay is triggered, resulting in a build up in coins if the relay isn't tied.

The Post-pay version, of course has no coin relay. Instead, it has a micro-switch mounted in the coin chute.

However, it is absolutely correct for semi-postpay versions. See Instruction Cards below...